Parallels between Malta and Vienna airports at Nice ACI congress

MALTA International Airport chairman Michael Hoeferer drew parallels between developments at Vienna International Airport (VIE) and MIA in a presentation he made earlier this month at the ACI annual congress in Nice.

Mr Hoeferer, who is also a member of VIE's executive management board, said while Vienna is in the heart of Europe, Malta is the Mediterranean gateway. The hub concept in Vienna relates to its use as the number one gateway to Eastern Europe with connections to the Far East and a minimum connection time of between 25 and 30 minutes.

MIA is capitalising on Malta's role as a cargo transport centre in the Mediterranean, while leveraging its cruise and fly business. Over 30 per cent of MIA's revenue is from non-aviation activities.

In terms of employment, there are 2,900 employees with VIE's operator, the Flughafen Wien Group, and some 12,300 employees within the airport perimeter, while MIA employs 460.

Vienna Airport plc was privatised in 1992; MIA a decade later. Both's ownership structure consists of 40 per cent of public sector investment.

Last year VIE handled 12.8 million passengers, with over a third in transfer traffic. MIA handled 2.7 million passengers with 32,200 aircraft movements. VIE is a full airport provider, including airport operations, ground handling, safety/security, infrastructure and commercial activities.

MIA is ranked as the second best airport worldwide in the IATA Global Service Monitor for airports with a maximum of 15 million passengers per year for 2002.

Looking to the future, Mr Hoeferer said Vienna intends to spend €722 million to expand the airport and its infrastructure in the next five years, including the extension of the air terminal to accommodate a larger amount of aircraft parked adjacent to the terminal, a rail link from the airport to the city centre, a new office park, air cargo centre and an air traffic control tower.

MIA has applied for planning permission for a Mediterranean Business Park that will include shopping, training, car parking and office facilities, a leisure complex, conference and exhibition halls and a four-star hotel.